Steam-trap.



C. GULLAND.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-23. 1915.

[,170.,896, Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

15021 2? 2 27 5 P w [J 24 I7 Id ii 4 I 15 6; krz sa' UN TED STATES PATENT orrao CHARLES GULLAND, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF Tt) JOHN F. COUBSON, O1? PITCAIRN, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM-TRAP.

Application filed January 23, 1915. Serial No. 3,920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES GULLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam- Traps, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention has for its object to provide a simple, effective and reliable means for collecting and emptying water of condensation from a steam line.

It consists of. a collecting vessel, prefer- I ably cylindrical, to which the water of condensation is supplied by the branch of a steam line, having an outlet conduit provided with a controlling valve, together with valve actuating mechanism operable 'by a hollow'stem, and means, dependent on the contents of the vessel, for circulatingafluid therethrough to effect contraction or expansion of the same to open the outlet 'valve.

One preferred form of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus, empty. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing it filled. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail viewshowing a modified arrangement of the outlet valve.

In the drawings, 2 is the water collecting reservoir to which water of condensation is delivered by a drip pipe 3 of a steam line 4, a branch 5 of which may connect with a bypass chamber or column 6, as shown. Said column communicates with the reservoir near its base, as shown, so that as the v water accumulates, it will rise in both equally.

An outlet or waste pipe 7 leads from the bottom of reservoir 2 and is provided with a valve casing 8 and a valve 9 therein having a stem 10 extending upwardly through the usual stuffing box of the casing. I

Extending upwardly through the interior of reservoir 2 is a hollow stem 11, of brass or other suitable material, which is connected by a fitting 12 with stem 10, and is adapted to raise or lower it as the stem contracts or expands, to open or close the valve 9. 'A lateral waste connection 13 leads from fitting 12 and the stem 11' extends through a suitable stuffing box 14 provided for longitudinal movement." At its upper Patented Feb. 8, i916.

connection with hot water or steam, or any other fluid having a temperature higher than that of the contents of the reservoir 2, by merely reversing the valve 9 in the easing, as in Fig. 3, so as to eii'ect opening of .the valve by elongation of the hollow stem,

due to expansion. The valve in such case will close by contraction upon shutting OK the circulation through the chamber of valve 18, in the manner already described.

An actuating rod 26 is connected at 27 with lever 22, and said rod extends downwardiy through the upper end ofa cap or fitting 28 of column 6, and to near the lower end thereof, preferably into a guiding tube 29. Slidably mounted on rod 26 is a float 3.0, preferably of inverted cup shape, as shown, adapted to rise and fall lengthwise of said rod with the rising and falling water, as indicated. Rod 26 is provided with limiting abutments or stops 31, 32, one of which 31 arrests the float on its-downward travel, during draining of the reservoir, and effects shifting of the rod 26'doWnwardly by weight of the float to close the valve-18. The other stop 32, being engaged by the upwardly traveling float, is lifted,

and thereby operates stem 26 and lever 22 to open valve 18. In such case, the reservoir being practically fall, a stream of cold water is admitted through pipe 16 and stem 11, which, by contracting the stem, raises valve 9, allowing the contents of the reservoir to drain 'ofi.

' Upon the float 30 falling, as stated, the cold water circulation is closed, and upon stem 11 expanding by the contained heat of the reservoir, valve 9 is again closed and the water again collected in the reservoir for another discharge.

Stem 10 is connected with the fitting 12 by an adjusting nut 33 tapped into the fitting and receiving the threaded end of the stem. By turning the nut 33 the relative position of the valve may be accurately adjusted asdesired, and any wear or other variation and a condensation water outlet conduit, a

valve controlling, he outlet, and a hollow e);

.pansible and COI'ltI'tl-Ciliblfi stem extending through the reservoir connected with said valve adapted to be traversed by fluid, a valve controlling fluidfoii'tulation therethrough, means for actuating said valve dependent on the contents of the reservoir, said hollow stem being provided with a branch outlet connection between the outlet valve and the reservoir.

2. A trap of the class described consisting of a closed reservoir having an inlet and an outlet conduit, a valve controlling the outlet, a hollow circulating stem extending through the reservoir connected with said valve beyondthe reservoir at one end thereof and with a source of fluid beyond the reservoir at the other end thereof, and valve mechanism controlling circulation through said circulatii'ig stem having lever mechanism actuating stem extending through the reservoir and connected with a fluid supply pipe, a valve in said pipe, lever mechanism therefor, and a float device operable with the rise and fall of the contents of the res ervoir to actuate said mechanism.

In c mibination, a reservoir having an inlet and an outlet conduit, a valve controlling the outlet conduit having a hollow actuating stem extending thr 'l; the reservoir and connected with a n'u'ld supply pipe, a valve controlling circulation through said pipe, lever mechanism therefor, a bypass conduit communicating with the reservoir, a float therein, and a rod connected with said lever mechanism, extendin into said conduit. and having abutments a apted to he engaged by the float.

l n testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

I CHAS. GULLAND.

lVitnesses:

ll. linen, (l. M. (Lanna 

